Direct drive vacuum cleaner agitator roller



y 7, 1947. E. A. BASINGER 2,421,235

DIRECT DRIVE VACUUM CLEANER AGITATOR ROLLER Filed Feb. 10, 1.944

Patented May 27, 1947 PATE-N'l OFFICE DIRECT DRIVE VACUUM CLEANER AGITATOR ROLLER Elmer A. Basinger, Washington, D. 0. Application February 10, 1944, Serial No. 521,867

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a vacuum or suction cleaner with a direct drive for a brush or agitator.

An advantage of the direct driven agitator-element is that it diminishes the space at present needed within the nozzle or brush housing for the belt pulley and agitator clips or holders. The bristles and bars can now extend over the entire length of the brush or agitator, thus eliminating the dead sections occupied at present by belt pulleys and bearings and brush holders.

As considerable space is gained in this manner, the vacuum cleaner can be made much narrower, lighter and easier to handle without reducing the effective width of the nozzle, but by making the machine more compact by reducing its height or length. This has the advantage that it can be operated much closer to walls and to furniture and even getting much further in under the furniture.

One embodiment of my direct drive for vacuum cleaners is illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which:

Fig; 1 represents a fragmentary bottom plan view of a cleaner with the agitator or brush showing thru the nozzle opening;

Fig. 2, a vertical section along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a similar section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i, a section of the end socket of the motor spindle and snap connection with the brush or roller shaft, and

Fig. 5, a bottom view similer to Fig. l with the motor placed in the middle instead of at one end of the brush or agitator.

In the figures the same numerals refer to the same parts of the device.

As the present invention is concerned only with the agitator and its operation, no detailed description is made of the suction device employed, as this invention is applicable to any type cleaner. Only such parts as are directly related to the agitating element and necessary for its proper functioning will be fully described.

In the figures numeral I is the housing for the agitator-element II seen from below thru the mouth or nozzle I2 of the cleaner of which the casing I3 provides a suction chamber wherein the suction fan and motor, not here shown, are mounted. Within the housing II), which forms a continuation of the casing I3, is revolubly mounted the agitator roller II on a horizontal shaft I4. The agitator-element II, consists of an ordinary revolving roller, see Figs. 1 and 2, here provided with brushes I5 with short bristles arranged in straight lines on the surface of a wooden roller and alternating with preferably metal or plastic ridges I8. These ridges and brushes protrude I from the surface of the roller ll not more than 5 to barely contact the surface which is to be swept. The roller shaft I4 runs straight thru from end to end, entering at the right of the housing In where afball bearing H is provided, while a head 23 is outside the housing for withdrawing of the shaft l4.

At its other end the shaft engages with a snap latch I9 provided in the socket of the motor spindle 2| which runs in another antifriction or ball bearing 22, see Fig. 4. The snap latch consists of a cup in a radial recess in said socket with a helical spring behind a small ball adapted to engage a notch in said roller shaft I4. With a. jerk or sharp pull on the head 23 of the roller shaft I4, the same becomes released from the mo- 20 tor spindle 2| and can thus be withdrawn from the roller II. in which it is keyed. The agitator roller may thus be dropped out from the housing thru its nozzle I2 for cleaning or repair.

The agitator motor 25 is quite small and need 25 only make about 800 R. P. M. It is here shown mounted in an end bracket 26 removably secured in a compartment separated by a partition 28a from the left end of the housing in any suitable manner and with its spindle 2| having a ball bear- 30 ing 21 on the left end as well as the one 22 on its right end.

A lead-in wire is shown at 28 for supplying current from a source of electric power; and at 29 is indicated an automatic safety thermal switch 5 of known type which can turn off the current to the agitator motor in the event the same should stick for some reason and in this manner save the burning out of the motor, etc.

The modification in Fig. 5 consists in placing 40 the motor 30 on the middle of the shaft with two shorter brushes or agitators 3| on each side, the general construction otherwise being similar.

There being no direct connection by belt between the agitator and suction motor in this direct 46 drive device, the speed of the suction motor can be increased, thereby creating a greater suction without increasing the number of revolutions of the agitator beyond the necessary usual speed.

The agitator itself is easily removed when nec- 5g essary by withdrawal of the long shaft extending through the right hand bearing and the entire length of the agitator itself and into a slip socket in the end of the motor shaft. This slip socket may be made with a ball protruding from the 6!! inside surface of the socket wall and held firmly with a small coil spring. The ball bears firmly against a flat surface on the shaft, preventing the shaft from turning in the socket except under sudden and very firm resistance by the agitator. Or a small round depression may be made in the shaft, allowing the ball to drop into it upon insertion of the shaft into the socket. This latter method will also serve to hold the shaft from backing out of position.

It is to be clearly understood that the invention 10 here shown and described may be widel modifled within the scope of the claim.

I claim:

In a vacuum cleaner having a suction chamber with an intake nozzle, a readily accessible and independently removable dust raising device comprising a roller provided with agitating elements along its surface and mounted in said nozzle, an axial shaft keyed in the roller for rotation therewith but permitting axial withdrawal, bearings at each end of said nozzle for said shaft, 8, motor axially aligned with said shaft mounted adjacent one end of said roller in a compartment separated by a partition from said intake nozzle, a coupling between the motor spindle and said shaft releasable by a pull on the shaft, said shaft projecting through the end wall of the nozzle at the opposite end of said roller and being provided at its projecting end with a knob to facilitate withdrawal of the shaft from the roller.

ELMER A. BASINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

